Gary Hootman

Swisher, Iowa, USA

Title: Fire Box Vase

Year of Creation: 2008

Glaze: Shino and natural ash

Clay Body: Stoneware

Dimensions: Height 18 inches, Width 7 inches

Artist's Statement: After 30 years of making pots, I'm still amazed how a simple glaze (in this case shino) can be transformed by the wood firing process with the addition of natural fly ash deposits and where the piece is placed in the kiln. This vase was placed in the firebox and the color achieved by one more element of piling up of wood coals against the piece.